George Gerapetritis: Tsipras despises parliamentary democracy itself

Today’s decision by the leader of the main opposition, Alexis Tsipras, to withdraw his party from the parliamentary elections, the arrangement for the Kasidiaris party and the post-election scenarios, were at the center of the interview of the Minister of State, Giorgos Gerapetritis, on the main bulletin of ERT1.

To the first question, in particular, why the government accuses SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance of Trumpism, given that the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, did something completely different by sending his supporters to the Capitol, the Minister of State responded as follows:

“I think, let’s not rush it, we might see that too. There is also a proactive questioning of the integrity of the elections by SYRIZA. I’m afraid we have a lot to see ahead of us. There are parliamentary institutions, and regardless of political differences, let us all understand that we respect the rules of the political game. Which is not just a treaty, which has to do with politics. It is a condition of democracy. When there is a government, which has been elected with a specific mandate of four years, with a very high percentage of the Greek people, when just last week we had a vote of no confidence – which is the highest means of parliamentary control – it is unthinkable three days later to the leader of the official opposition comes to question the parliamentary legitimacy of this type, saying that he will practically abstain from the votes of the Parliament. It is actually a contempt for parliamentary democracy itself,” he pointed out and continued:

“Our government is structured and operates with parliamentary rules. The possibilities that SYRIZA has, have been exhausted with the motion of no confidence that highlighted the correlations of political forces. This move undermines parliamentarism and we all must understand that institutions are not a theatrical game but a condition for the survival of our democracy”.

Asked about the upcoming regulation that will concern the Kasidiaris party, G. Gerapetritis underlined that “the democratic functioning of the state must be preserved. The political forces of the country should find the courage to exhaust every constitutional possibility, so as to prevent those parties, which take advantage of the tolerance of democracy to come to the end to question its very logic. The Prime Minister has stated that the governing majority will come to the Parliament with a specific proposal, which will step on the existing provision. Today, with the initiative of the government and the consent of the entire political world, from 2021, there is a provision that prevents someone who has been convicted of a criminal organization from participating in the leadership group of a party. We will act on this provision, so as to prevent the totalitarianisms that seem to be plotting against democracy. We cannot imagine that the next Parliament will have in its bosom people who advise it”.

In addition, “those who have been convicted as a criminal organization cannot lead a political party. Either apparently or really. No one is prevented from being a candidate, but they cannot be in the leadership group. There is also a basic logic in these issues,” he said, explaining at the same time that “the Constitution itself, in Article 29, requires that parties must serve the democratic function of the state. If at the moment there are political parties, which, as a result of time, have developed a criminal organization, we are not talking about the operation of a political party, but a joint organization of criminal law. The osmosis of a criminal criminal organization and a party cannot exist,” he also explained.

On the issue of consensus with the opposition, the Minister of State also stated: “We have invited the parties to a creative dialogue. As in 2021, so also now, all the democratic forces of the country should be drafted.”

According to G. Gerapetritis, “referring to Nazism or racism are vague and very broad concepts by definition. The wider the framework that you introduce, so as to prevent someone with extreme views from entering the Parliament, the more you run the risk, on the one hand, of it being too open (the provision) and understanding many cases that you did not want it to understand, on the other hand not to understand the one you want. For us, the vague concepts of Nazism, racism, totalitarianism, fascism should certainly not exist in the Parliament, but only politically. Legally, what should not exist is an osmosis of a political party and a criminal organization.” The minister closed the relevant report, announcing that “in the next few days” the relevant provision will come to Parliament.

In the chapter on post-election scenarios, he underlined the “strategic pursuit of New Democracy” which is “to win the elections, which are a whole. The first elections are those which highlight the prime minister. In this electoral contest we are giving all our strength, believing that the Greek people will trust us for an independent government and an independent Greece”.

To the question about the time of the elections, he repeated that “the prime minister has stated that the elections will be held in April or May”. What is needed, he added, is “the emergence of a strong, stable government that will face the challenges. We are not at all in this age for political experimentation. I think that the Greek people, with the mistakes, the omissions we have made, in some cases those we have not delivered, will trust us so that we can continue our work”, he added.

Subsequently, “the simple analogy brought by SYRIZA, I think solely for reasons of political opportunism, constitutes a bomb for the stability of the Greek state. Governmental stability is the key stake we should all serve. For us, the first Sunday is very important, because it will highlight the leader, the prime minister and the dynamics. In order to obtain a self-sufficient government, we will definitely have a second election.”

In addition, “a work has been produced that has not been done in the Postcolonial period. The electorate realizes that the work must be continued, completed. I have the deepest conviction that we will conquer self-reliance, which will lead us to an even stronger and more self-reliant Greece.”

To the opposition official’s claims of possible blackmail by the ND towards PASOK – Movement for Change, he responded as follows: “First of all, I perceive the criticism of a possible co-government between the ND and KINAL, by those who co-governed with the Far Right and ANEL for 4 ,5 years, bringing Greece to the brink of real economic disaster and lack of social cohesion. The second demand is simpler: the Greek people support us in all positions. If he puts the ND in a position of self-reliance – which I believe we will have at the end of the day – then we will govern in the way we have done and I believe even better, to get our work done. If not, then we will look within the constitutional framework for those solutions that are possible, so that we can have continuity and stability. We have lived in our skin for the last 3.5 years, that normality is, unfortunately, a permanent crisis. And in ongoing crises it is very important to have a government that is strong and there is no risk of any dissension or division,” he emphasized.

The interview ended with the request of the major opposition that the Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, resign due to the phenomena of corruption within the Greek Police. “If we had listened to all the demands of SYRIZA for ministerial resignations, then it is obvious at this moment, that we should have looked to civil society for ministers. Every week, every month, SYRIZA asks for the resignation of a minister”, he commented by way of introduction.

As for the essence of the case, “at this moment certain issues are really emerging that have to do with structural issues of the Greek Police. In this context, the Minister of Citizen Protection has already ordered the initiation of all legal actions in the context of the internal audit, the necessary audits have been carried out and there will be findings. The necessary files have already been sent to the prosecutor’s office, there is absolutely no chance that all the cases will not be clarified. There should also be a cleansing of the police, it is a very important arm for the Greek State, a necessary arm for maintaining public order. On the other hand, where there are islands of corruption, I assure you that there will be an absolute cleansing”, he emphasized in closing.

RES-EMP

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